I am still in the researching phase of my journey and have yet to select a doctor. I think I'm getting real close to it being Dr. Spivak based on experience, price, etc. I am a self pay. Any insights, suggestions, etc. anyone has is greatly appreciated. -Rachel

Welcome!!! Good luck on your journey, this is a great place to seek out advice and answers.

Dr. Spivak seems to be a fairly popular choice as a surgeon. I did a search on his name in thread titles only and came up with two pages worth of threads with his name in the title. The SEarc function is located near the top of the page, click on advanced, then use the pull-down menu to choose Thread titles. Here's a few of what I got:

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=31192

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=23486

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=30334

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=30437

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=23902

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=25030

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=16728

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=14780

Thanks very much!

I've been looking at the links you sent me. This is great! I have to figure out how to do this myself. I did feel a little silly writing something that I was sure had been discussed before somewhere, sometime. I think I can do it based on your great instructions. THANKS!!!

hi rachel, i had my surgery with dr. spivak last month march 13, 2007.

i'm really happy with the results i've been getting, lost 16 lbs so far. he really is the best! my starting weight was 230 and i'm on 214. also i'm only 5'2. hope to have help some with your decision.

Thanks for the info! Congrats and good luck! -Rachel

You'd be hard pressed to find a negative post about Dr. Spivak. All his patients love him, including me. His staff is wonderful, too. And unlike many other doctors, he has a good after-care support program.

My friend who is an anesthesiologist says that Dr. Spivak is the best laparoscopic surgeon in Houston. He was concerned about me getting the lap-band because of potential complications, but when I told him I was considering Dr. Spivak, he told me I couldn't be in better hands and supported my decision to have the surgery. Two of the nurses at Park Plaza who helped take care of me also had Dr. Spivak do their lap-bands. They said the same thing as my doctor friend -- Spivak is the best.

I've been looking at the links you sent me. This is great! I have to figure out how to do this myself. I did feel a little silly writing something that I was sure had been discussed before somewhere, sometime. I think I can do it based on your great instructions. THANKS!!!

No need to feel silly at all! That's why we're all here, to help one another out. I just included the instructions in my earlier post on how to do a search in case you didn't know yet.

Again, welcome and feel free to ask questions and share your story with us! Sometimes something may have been asked before, but that doesn't mean it isn't good to get a fresh group of responses to the query. It looks like you have gotten a few good responses here, too. :nervous :nervous

Hi Rachel. Congrats ion the decision to have the surgery. I had mine done wit Dr Speigle. I also was a self pay patient. I have heard positive info on Dr Spivak also. THis is the first time I have posted a comment so I hope it will be helpful. I last 20 lbs in the first 2 weeks had my first fill 2 weeks ago and feel wonderful. Good Luck

HEY! Wow! That's a great weight loss already! I can't wait to get mine done....14 days and counting....

Hi Rachelb123. I Was Banded By Dr Spivak On May 2 2007. He Was There Before Surgery. And He Was The First Face I Saw After I Woke Up. He Is A Really Good Surgeon And So Is The Staff. I Was Very Very Nervous But They Let You Know That I WOULD Be Fine And Everything Will Work Out

Good Luck Keep It Touch:o

Hi Rachel! Glad to see that you made a great choice in Spivak. Sorry I didn't see this sooner.

I really have NO regrets at all with him. He is the best.

I was 329 on surgery day 11/09/05, and I am currently 175.

The lap band was the best thing I have ever done for myself.

Spivak rules. His patients are all over this site. Get this... I have Lupus. When my husband and I went over for the surgery, he had arranged for a banded Lupus person to meet us there, answer any last questions and hold my hand until they knocked me out.

the Spivak thread

http://www.lapbandtalk.com/showthread.php?t=29122

Howdy! I'm another Spivak person. Was going to go to Spigel, but after reading all the posts I decided to opt for Spivak. Do they do his surgery at Park Plaza or the Surgi-center?

Howdy! I'm another Spivak person. Was going to go to Spigel, but after reading all the posts I decided to opt for Spivak. Do they do his surgery at Park Plaza or the Surgi-center?

I think the location depends on whether you're self-pay or your insurance covers it. I was self-pay and had it done at Park Plaza.